Argentina were so close to retaining their title on Sunday after lifting the trophy in 2022, but were beaten 1-0 by Spain after a tense and scrappy affair. Argentina's players could also face further disciplinary action after FIFA opened an investigation following their semi-final win over England when several of them lifted a controversial banner touting their country’s claim to the Falkland Islands, which read: 'Las Malvinas Son Argentinas'.
Spain star Gavi has stated that Argentina's players should not be punished by FIFA for their actions after the World Cup final. Spain midfielder Gavi does not want Argentina's Leandro Paredes to be suspended for his part in the altercation at the end of Sunday's World Cup final.
The Barcelona midfielder had been a non-playing substitute on Sunday as La Roja dethroned Argentina following a tense but thoroughly deserved 1-0 victory.
'No, to tell you the truth, I don't think he (Leandro Paredes) should be suspended,' he told Spanish radio station El Partidazo de COPE.
FIFA has confirmed that no red card was shown to Paredes on the field, but on Monday evening FIFA announced that its disciplinary committee had appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to investigate possible breaches of the FIFA disciplinary code during the incident. FIFA has opened an investigation The probe covers multiple incidents rather than the Gavi-Paredes exchange alone, meaning FIFA is investigating multiple incidents after the final whistle.